System and method for spoken caller identification in a cellular telephone headset

ABSTRACT

The subject disclosure describes monitoring when a headset is in communication with a mobile communication device, detecting the headset, comparing a name of a caller and a telephone number of the caller against a list of names and telephone numbers previously stored in a memory, determining that the name of the caller or the telephone number of the caller matches one of the names and telephone numbers in the list, determining that the one of the names and telephone numbers is associated with a pre-recorded message that the user previously recorded and stored in the memory, retrieving the pre-recorded message, and performing a text-to-speech conversion on the name and telephone number of the caller to generate a synthesized speech signal spoken text message and sending the synthesized speech signal and the pre-recorded message to the headset. Other embodiments are disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/782,342 filed Mar. 1, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/746,417 filed May 9, 2007 now U.S. Pat. No.8,412,284, the disclosures of all of which are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to caller identification, andmore particularly relates to spoken caller identification.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Incoming caller identification, a feature that displays the caller'snumber for incoming calls to a called customer, allows selectiveacceptance of certain calls based on the calling number while othercalls are either not answered or are routed to a message center. Thefeature is implemented by transmitting the calling line identificationto the called customer landline telephone or cellular telephone in adata message. The data message is displayed by the landline telephone orcellular telephone in a text format for the customer. Because customerstypically remember only a few, frequently called telephone numbers, afeature that additionally provides the caller name is substantially moreuseful to customers in deciding whether to accept a call.

In a call announcement arrangement which is the subject of U.S. Pat. No.4,899,358, the calling party name is obtained from a database search anda text-to-speech unit generates speech signals, rather than a datamessage, for transmission to the called landline telephone. The callingparty name is spoken at the landline telephone instead of beingdisplayed. For a conventional analog landline telephone, the name isspoken after the called party has answered in response to ringing at thelandline telephone but before a connection is completed to the caller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a spoken caller identification system;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method for providing a spoken calleridentification through a headset of a mobile communication device; and

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a data processing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a spoken caller identification system100 including a mobile communication device 102 and a headset 104. Themobile communication device 102 is preferably a cellular telephone, orany other portable device, having an associated telephone number. Themobile communication device 102 includes a caller identification module106, a headset module 108, a converter module 110, and a memory 112. Theheadset 104 is preferably an earpiece worn by a user, a hands freevehicle communication system, or any other device capable of connectingwith the mobile communication device 102. The mobile communicationdevice 102 and the headset 104 communicate through a physicalconnection, or more preferably through a wireless connection such as anIEEE 802.11a/b/g compatible wireless fidelity (WiFi) connection or awireless Bluetooth connection.

If the headset module 108 detects that the mobile communication device102 is connected to the headset 104, the headset module sends anactivation signal to the converter module 110. When the mobilecommunication device 102 receives an incoming telephone call, the calleridentification module 106 extracts caller identification information,such as the telephone number and/or the caller's name, associated withthe call. Regardless of whether the headset 104 is present, the calleridentification module 106 preferably displays the caller identificationinformation in a text format on a screen 114. If the converter module110 is activated, however, it compares the calling party name and/ortelephone number against a list of names and/or telephone numberspreviously stored by the user in the memory 112. If there is an exact(or, if desired, a close) match to one of the names or telephone numbersstored in the memory 112, the converter module 110 retrieves the nameassociated with the telephone number in the memory 112.

The converter module 110 then performs a text-to-speech conversion oneither the caller identification information as received from the calleridentification module 106, or on the name stored by the user in thememory 112. The text-to-speech conversion converts the text receivedfrom the caller identification module 106 or the memory 112 into asynthesized speech signal that is then output to the headset 104.Alternatively, the user may pre-record a message (such as a name)associated with an entry in the memory 112, and the pre-recorded messagemay be output to the headset 104 in place of or in addition to thesynthesized speech. All of these steps may be completed before the useranswers the incoming telephone call.

The spoken caller identification system 100 may also identify the senderand/or text of an Instant Message sent to the mobile communicationdevice 102. When the mobile communication device 102 receives an InstantMessage, the mobile communication device performs the text-to-speechconversion on the caller identification for the Instant Message in thesame manner as for a telephone call. Additionally, the mobilecommunication device 102 preferably performs the text-to-speechconversion on the Instant Message, wherein the entire Instant Message isplayed as a synthesized speech signal through the headset 104.

FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of a method for providing spoken calleridentification through a headset of a mobile communication device. Atblock 202, the mobile communication device determines if the headset isin communication with the mobile communication device. The mobilecommunication device performs a text-to-speech conversion on a calleridentification for an incoming telephone call when the headset is incommunication with the mobile communication at block 204. At block 206,the mobile communication device sends a spoken caller identification tothe headset. The spoken caller identification is sent through a wirelessor a physical connection. The headset plays the spoken calleridentification to a user of the mobile communication at block 208.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a data processing device 300 comprisinga processor 302 and a computer-readable medium such as a memory 304. Thememory 304 stores a set of instructions to manipulate the processor toperform the method 200 of FIG. 2 above. In an alternative embodiment,dedicated hardware implementations, such as application specificintegrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardwaredevices, can be constructed to implement one or more of the methodsdescribed herein. Applications that may include the apparatus andsystems of various embodiments can broadly include a variety ofelectronic and computer systems. One or more embodiments describedherein may implement functions using two or more specific interconnectedhardware modules or devices with related control and data signals thatcan be communicated between and through the modules, or as portions ofan application-specific integrated circuit. Accordingly, the presentsystem encompasses software, firmware, and hardware implementations.

While the computer-readable medium is shown to be a single medium, theterm “computer-readable medium” includes a single medium or multiplemedia, such as a centralized or distributed database, and/or associatedcaches and servers that store one or more sets of instructions. The term“computer-readable medium” shall also include any medium that is capableof storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution bya processor or that cause a computer system to perform any one or moreof the methods or operations disclosed herein. In a particularnon-limiting, exemplary embodiment, the computer-readable medium caninclude a solid-state memory such as a memory card or other package thathouses one or more non-volatile read-only memories. Further, thecomputer-readable medium can be a random access memory or other volatilere-writable memory. Additionally, the computer-readable medium caninclude a magneto-optical or optical medium, such as a disk or tapes orother storage device to capture carrier wave signals such as a signalcommunicated over a transmission medium. A digital file attachment to ane-mail or other self-contained information archive or set of archivesmay be considered a distribution medium that is equivalent to a tangiblestorage medium. Accordingly, the disclosed subject matter is consideredto include any one or more of a computer-readable medium or adistribution medium and other equivalents and successor media, in whichdata or instructions may be stored.

The spoken caller identification system 100 thus provides the user witha number of advantages. One advantage is that the user is able todetermine the identity of the caller without having to look at a displayscreen of the mobile communication device. This ability allows the userto receive the spoken caller identification while moving around inproximity to, but not actually holding, the mobile communication device102. Also, if the user is driving a vehicle or carrying the mobilecommunication device 102 under clothing, in a pocket, or in a purse,then the user does not have to search for the mobile communicationdevice to determine the caller identification of the incoming call.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein may be implemented by software programsexecutable by a computer system. Further, in an exemplary, non-limitedembodiment, implementations can include distributed processing,component/object distributed processing, and parallel processing.Alternatively, virtual computer system processing can be constructed toimplement one or more of the methods or functionality as describedherein.

The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of the variousembodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a completedescription of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systemsthat utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many otherembodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewingthe disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from thedisclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changesmay be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure.Additionally, the illustrations are merely representational and may notbe drawn to scale. Certain proportions within the illustrations may beexaggerated, while other proportions may be minimized Accordingly, thedisclosure and the FIGS. are to be regarded as illustrative rather thanrestrictive.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is submitted with the understanding thatit will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of theclaims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, variousfeatures may be grouped together or described in a single embodiment forthe purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to beinterpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodimentsrequire more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather,as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter may bedirected to less than all of the features of any of the disclosedembodiments. Thus, the following claims are incorporated into theDetailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as definingseparately claimed subject matter.

The above disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, andnot restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications, enhancements, and other embodiments which fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the present disclosed subject matter. Thus, tothe maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present disclosedsubject matter is to be determined by the broadest permissibleinterpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shallnot be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.

What is claimed is:
 1. A communication device, comprising: a memory to store executable instructions; and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor, responsive to executing the executable instructions, performs operations comprising: detecting caller identification information associated with an incoming call; comparing the caller identification information against contact information stored in the memory; determining that the caller identification information is associated with a pre-recorded message stored in the memory based on the comparing; converting the caller identification information into a synthesized speech signal; and providing the pre-recorded message and the synthesized speech signal to an audio device for audible presentation.
 2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the audio device comprises a head set, and wherein the communication device is a mobile device.
 3. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the caller identification information comprises a telephone number of a caller.
 4. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the caller identification information comprises a name of a caller.
 5. The communication device of claim 4, comprising a display, wherein the operations further comprise displaying the name of the caller on the display.
 6. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise monitoring whether the audio device is in communication with the communication device.
 7. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the providing of the pre-recorded message and the synthesized speech signal to the audio device is through a wireless connection.
 8. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the audio device is part of a hands-free communication system.
 9. A method comprising: detecting, by a communication device comprising a processor, caller identification information associated with an incoming call; comparing, by the communication device, the caller identification information against contact information stored in a memory of the communication device to identify a pre-recorded message corresponding to the caller identification information; retrieving, by the communication device, the pre-recorded message; and providing, by the communication device, the pre-recorded message to an audio device for audible presentation.
 10. The method of claim 9, comprising: performing, by the communication device, a text-to-speech conversion on the contact information to generate a spoken caller identification; and providing, by the communication device, the spoken caller identification to the audio device for presentation.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the providing of the spoken caller identification and the pre-recorded message to the audio device is through a wireless connection.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the caller identification information comprises a telephone number of a caller, and wherein the pre-recorded message is retrieved from the memory.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein the audio device comprises an earpiece.
 14. The method of claim 9, wherein the audio device is part of a hands-free vehicle communication system, and wherein the communication device is a mobile device.
 15. The method of claim 9, comprising displaying text representative of the caller identification information on a display of the communication device.
 16. An audio device, comprising: a memory to store executable instructions; and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor, responsive to executing the executable instructions, performs operations comprising: facilitating establishing communications with a mobile communication device; receiving a pre-recorded message from the mobile communication device, wherein the pre-recorded message is identified by the mobile communication device based on a comparison of caller identification information for an incoming call with contact information stored by the mobile communication device; and presenting audibly the pre-recorded message.
 17. The audio device of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise: receiving a synthesized speech signal from the mobile communication device, wherein the synthesized speech signal is generated by the mobile communication device based on the caller identification information; and presenting audibly the synthesized speech signal.
 18. The audio device of claim 16, wherein the receiving of the pre-recorded message is through a wireless connection, and wherein the caller identification information comprises a telephone number of a caller.
 19. The audio device of claim 16, comprising a head set.
 20. The audio device of claim 16, wherein the audio device is part of a hands-free communication system. 